National Gallery
About National Gallery
One of the world's great art museums, overlooking Trafalgar Square with more than 2,000 Western European paintings from the 13th to the early 20th century, free to see.
History
The National Gallery was founded in 1824, when the British government bought 38 paintings from the collection of banker John Julius Angerstein. The collection was first shown in his former townhouse on Pall Mall.
It moved to its purpose-built home on Trafalgar Square, designed by William Wilkins, in 1838. The Sainsbury Wing, which houses the gallery's earliest paintings, opened in 1991, and the collection is held in trust for the nation and free to view.
What to Expect
Expect masterpiece after masterpiece, from Botticelli and Leonardo to Rembrandt, Turner, Monet and Van Gogh. The galleries are arranged roughly by period, so pick a few rooms rather than trying to see everything. Friday evenings are a calmer time to visit, and Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden are right on the doorstep.
Known For
Highlights
- Free entry
- Old Master paintings
- Impressionist rooms
- Free talks and tours
- Late Friday opening
- Views over Trafalgar Square
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the National Gallery free?
- Yes, the National Gallery's collection is free to visit. Some temporary exhibitions require a paid ticket.
- What are the must-see paintings at the National Gallery?
- Popular highlights include Van Gogh's Sunflowers, Turner's The Fighting Temeraire, Van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait and Constable's The Hay Wain.
- What is the nearest station to the National Gallery?
- Charing Cross and Leicester Square are both a few minutes' walk away, and Embankment is also nearby.
More London Museums & Galleries
British Museum
The world's first national public museum, holding around eight million objects spanning two million years of human history, from the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon sculptures.
Natural History Museum
A cathedral to the natural world in a stunning Victorian building, famous for Hope the blue whale skeleton, its dinosaur gallery and around 80 million specimens.
Tate Modern
Britain's national gallery of international modern and contemporary art, housed in a former power station on the South Bank with free collection displays and its vast Turbine Hall.